THEY ARE INDIAN NUMERALS NOT ARABIC

The other day I was reading 'INSTRUCTIONS TO AUTHORS' in an Indian science journal and it says "all the photographs should be numbered using Arabic numerals. I was surprised and disappointed that our people are not aware that the nine digits were invented in India not in the Middle East. It is true that the travelers from Arab to India had taken the knowledge of numerals with them and spread it in the West. If the Western world had not got the knowledge from India through the travelers, they would still be writing in Roman numerals that would have made the advent of science and technology rather impossible.

In this age of Patents and 'Intellectual Property Rights', we must at least acknowledge and appreciate the wisdom of ancient Indians that they had invented not only Zero but also the nine numerals. We can read the book 'Wonder that was India' by A. L. Basham where more details are available. I would not blame Westerners for their ignorance because they had got the knowledge from the Arabs and thought the numbers to be Arabic. However, our Indian scientists should know better. To be extra courteous we may call them Indo-Arabic numerals.

STOP PROMOTING BUFFALO CULTURE

In the recent past the spread of TV and cinema has been phenomenal and so is the steepness of the crime graph in India. Can any one explain why there has been explosion in the criminal cases of eve molestation, loot, abduction, ransom, murder, rape, burglary, cheating, synchronizing with the spread of TV and cinema. They were rare in the Indian society just a few decades ago. Film makers might claim they portray what is happening in the society but the fact is that the society tries to imitate what is happening on the screen. The promoters of crime are as guilty as the criminals themselves.

Indeed, many culprits admit that they got the idea and learnt the techniques from TV and cinema. T V channels have started special programmes on crime with full details of the heinous acts. These visuals make powerful impact on young viewers.

If children watch the throat of a goat or sheep being slit to allow the entire blood of her body ooze out, they become insensitive to oozing blood, their tender feelings are hardened. This is not to plead vegetarianism but to object to public display of cutting throat. Likewise when children watch sex crime, violence and antisocial activities, their animal instinct is awakened. Reel life is translating itself into real life.

Cinema and TV in their subtle ways are promoting a new type of culture –the buffaloes culture. The cattle roam around naked in public view and bulls chasing them with or without mutual consent. The Homo sapiens (humans) must have been like that during palaeolithic and Neolithic times but evolved to a civilized society of restraint thereafter. Film makers want to take us to the days of free for all through arousal of sensuality and sexuality on the pretext of public demand.

The excuse of public demand is obnoxious because the public might demand hashish, marijuana, opium and host of other things but we cannot and perhaps should not supply the same to the people. The argument is nothing but refuge for earning quick money by exploiting animal instincts of human beings.

Agreed, all living beings from bacteria to humans have their own ways and rules of love and love making. Human evolution was accompanied with social experience leading to civilized manners that prohibit public display of intimate personal life a la buffaloes. The programmes on TV and cinema are doing precisely the same.

After the so called arousal of sensuality and sexuality, the young ones try to satisfy their urge. Since they cannot go on a date with a friend to calm down they adopt other means that are most unpleasant.

I heard one of the leading film makers saying India is a country where 'Shiva Linga' is worshipped and Khajuraho, Konark and Ajanta were created. This is silly argument. Shiva literally means auspiciousness and welfare and Shiva Linga shaped as Cosmos is the symbol of Cosmic Energy of auspiciousness.

Regarding Khajuraho and Konark , the sex postures are depicted on the outer side of walls of temples but once you enter the temple, the walls and ceilings are blank and plain. The message is loud and clear. You need to overcome the sexual urge to tread the path of spiritual concentration, the sublimation of energy. Be as it may, taking shelter under mythological context may be dangerous. For example, Virgin Mary gave birth to Lord Jesus Christ, should the film makers portray virgins to be child bearing? This will be absolute misuse of the freedom of expression granted by our constitution.

It is for the film makers to use their discretion and decide if on the pretext of public demand they should exhibit the bedroom scenes on screen for arousal of sensuality and sexuality at the expense of discipline and sensitivity of Indian mind? Should the film makers go on pouring petrol and expect the fire not to ignite?

THE KASHMIR TANGLE

Every Indian loves Kashmir a little more than he or she loves any other state of the country. Does that mean the people of India be taxed for ever to keep the problem alive. Should our soldiers be asked to defend Kashmir with folded hands . Some researchers estimate that 40000 people have been killed since 1989 alone and Thousands of soldiers have died. Can any one estimate the number of soldiers died in Kashmir since 1947 and money spent to contain insurgency. Can any one count the money spent by way of subsidy that failed to please the Kashmiri populace . If this is the way our governments wish to solve the problem, God forbid the cost that will be paid in decades nay Centuries to come.

Kashmir is an integral part of India, they say but an Indian cannot roam around freely there what to talk of purchasing a piece of land. Indian soldiers are sent there to contain insurgency with instructions not to use weapons lest it will be construed violation of human right !!

It is a miracle that many of the soldiers return home alive and safe, though mentally disturbed at times.

It is said that Nehru had promised plebicite in Kashmir and did not try the exercise. Did Nehru have sanction of the Parliament to promise the plebicite or did he take the Kashmir dispute to U.N.O. with the approval of the Parliament? Be as it may, the problem has gone from bad to worse over the years.

Even after the last 61 years' of fighting the hostile people, it did not occur to our governments that the problem can never ever be solved unless the demographic complexion of Kashmir is altered to all India figures. Hope our governments will understand.

अनजाने मुसाफिर को समर्पित

यादों की गठरी समेटे हुए और अपनी ही धुन में

सड़क के किनारे

अकेला मुसाफ़िर चला जा रहा था

गठरी थी उसकी खुली जा रही ,

यादें संभाले संभलती नहीं थीं

कभी ग़म निकल कर चुभन दे रहे थे,

खुशियाँ कभी थीं उसको

खिझातीं

तभी एक साथी पुराना मिला

बोला कब तक ये गठरी सँवारे रहोगे

इसे फ़ेंक दो, आग इसमें लगा दो

रफ़्तार तुम ज़िन्दगी की बढ़ा दो

नई ज़िन्दगी के सफ़र पर निकल लो

फिर नयी एक गठरी सजा लो

वह रुका, थोडा सोचा और

रफ़्तार अपनी बढा ली.

DREAMS CAN BE TRUE ALSO

Born in a poor family in a remote rural area I do not know how and wherefrom I got big dreams and lofty ideals. Such dreams are easy to fulfill for a resourceful, wealthy person but the god of dreams does not realize that the dreams of a person of meager resources, can be ‘Mungeri Lal ke sapne’. They were about to be so in my case also but the god of resources smiled at me on occasions.

After struggling hard for my education in childhood, I dreamt of a decent school in my village. Strangely the comfortable life in the Oil and Natural Gas Commission or the position of the Head of Department in the Kanya Kubja Degree College in Lucknow or riches of Canada could not deter me from the dream. Even the fame received from the discovery of 565 million years old fossils of animals on earth could not stop me from working on the dream. This was nothing short of a miracle, may be God’s will.

I started the school with mud walls and thatch roofing in a village 12 km from railway station and bus stand, 15 km from the post office and 50 km from the nearest bank. Even for a second I did not miss the luxury of my four years’ stay in Canada or comfortable life in Lucknow, Sibsagar and Baroda where I had lived. My wife Nirmala and I came in contact with a saint Swami Pathik Ji who had a trust to encourage the efforts on rural education. A few rooms and those we thought was a leap forward. Indeed it was.

We undertook many socio-economic-educational programmes. My wife encouraged the village youth to work hard in the fields and in homes, of course in a symbolic manner. Our aim was to make good foundation of education in children, particularly female children.

Then came an organization by name C.T.D. Foundation through the contacts of Swami Chidanand Saraswati of Rishikesh to our help and we could have a decent building.

Things are looking up with great efforts of Karan Dalal from Mumbai and my son Neelesh, the journalist in his own right. How true it is that God helps those who help themselves !!

We are trying to give quality education to the rural poor, imparting computer education to them, giving them exposure to scientists and educationalists. Poor man’s dream is fulfilled to an extent and I should have been contented. But I feel there still are miles to go and I am racing against time.

In the end, I can sense that my dream will come true in totality through the friends and colleagues of Karan and Neelesh who are consistent and thorough. Ham rahen na rahen kaam chalata rahe.

ALL MIGHTY DOLLAR COULD PURCHASE A LOT

I was watching well argued debate on Bhopal Gas Tragedy and the Honourable Home Minister of the govt. of India was replying the questions raised by the opposition. What baffled me the most was the reply to the pointed question who allowed safe passage to Anderson?

It is surprising that the government of the largest democracy of the world has no record of the safe passage to the CEO of a company charged with killing of thousands of people. If the question was asked in 2001 it was possible to reply, the Home Minister says. It means there was some record until 2001 and Anderson was not allowed to go on some body's verbal orders or was he?

Every body's memory has faded in 26 years the Home Minister says. Does the Govt of India base its functioning on memory that naturally goes to heaven along with the people concerned.

One more pointed question could be who had granted licence to the Carbide Company to start poisonous operations in a crowded city like Bhopal? Such a permission is impossible even to a U.S company in the U.S.A.

Is it the way our government preserves vital records? Or is it that any currency weak or strong can purchase anything and everything from our government in our country.

Debate on the Common Wealth Games and associated corruption had similar response. I am shocked to think if evidences against criminals in general are maintained in the same manner, no wonder they have safe passage from the legal punishment.

I am tempted to say,

Corruption Thy Name is Government !!

यह कैसी सर्व शिक्षा

भारत एक ऐसा देश है जहाँ केवल हिन्दुओं से सेकुलर बनने क़ी अपेक्षा क़ी जाती है, बाक़ी लोगों पर सेकुलरवाद लागू नहीं हैं. जब १९५६ में हिन्दू कोड बिल बनाया गया तब भारतीय कोड बिल बनाने की आवश्यकता नहीं समझी गयी. हिन्दू मैरेज एक्ट बनाते समय भी भारतीय मैरेज एक्ट पर ध्यान नहीं गया. शाह बानो प्रकरण में भी तमाम हो हल्ला करने के बाद सेकुलरवाद हार गया . सेकुलर फंड से धार्मिक यात्रायें करना भी एक सीमा तक लंभव कहा जा सकता है. परन्तु अब तो इन्तहा गो गयी जब 'सर्व शिक्षा' के नाम पर सरकारी खर्चे से एक अलग शिक्षा बोर्ड बनाया जा रहा है. यह कैसी सर्व शिक्षा जहाँ सर्वमान्य शिक्षा स्वीकार नहीं. मजहबी संख्या के आधार पर नौकरियां मांगी जा रही हैं और सरकार देने को तैयार भी है. आखिर यही सब तो कायदे आज़म मोहम्मद अली जिन्ना ने १९३७ के लखनऊ अधिवेशन में माँगा था. तब क्या तकलीफ थी. यही न कि तब वल्लभ भाई पटेल जीवित थे. उन्होंने बटवारा तो मजबूरी में माना लेकिन अपने जीवन में बटवारे की मानसिकता के आगे झुके नहीं. यदि यह सब उस समय मान लिया गया होता तो शायद देश नहीं बँटता परन्तु देश में दूसरे प्रकार का शासन होता. आखिर हमारे राजनेता चाहते क्या हैं ?